Hayes is now bound for Ottawa as one of 166 Conservative members in a Stephen Harper-led majority government, and it feels "absolutely fantastic," said Hayes.

"I was just so worried we would have 154 seats and we wouldn't get the Sault and we'd miss our majority and everybody would be looking at Sault Ste. Marie, so I'm so happy that didn't happen," laughed Hayes, 52, speaking to media at his campaign office Monday night.

Hayes drew 18,257 votes, on Monday, to Martin's 16,464, with Liberal candidate Christian Provenzano trailing with 8,293, according to unofficial results available on election night.

Hayes, a former Ward 3 city councilor, said the results were not surprising.

"I knew it was going to be close and it was close. I've done three municipal campaigns and when you're knocking at the door, you get a feel for things, and I was getting a feel that the Liberal vote was going to come the Conservative way and it would be enough to defeat Mr. Martin, and in fact it was," said Hayes, who drew 41.4% of the Sault vote.

Progressive Conservative Jim Kelleher's 1984 win was the last time the riding went blue. His had been the only Tory victory since the riding of Sault Ste. Marie split from Algoma West in 1966.

Until Monday.

Josh Pringle, president of the Conservative riding association, hailed Hayes's victory as historic for Sault politics.

"It feels fantastic. I mean, during Kelleher's time, I was two years old, so we've definitely seen a change in Sault Ste. Marie," said Pringle.

Hayes said he believes he benefited from a local swing away from Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.

"In all honesty, people were not embracing Michael Ignatieff. I heard it at the door. They just said, 'I can't vote for Michael Ignatieff. I used to be a Liberal, but I can't vote for Mr. Ignatieff,'" said Hayes.

At the same time, Prim Minister Harper's visit to the Sault, a week before the vote, gave Hayes's campaign momentum, said local Tory campaign manager, Ted Brooks. Brooks said stimulus projects in the Sault were also a factor.

Harper's campaign rallied at Sault College's new academic wing, one of a number of federal stimulus projects the city has recently reaped.

"The Conservative government has been very good for Sault Ste. Marie the last year and a half," said Brooks.

While an unpopular leader hurt Provenzano, it was Martin's position on the long gun registry that likely hurt the Sault NDP vote, said Brooks.

"Politics is a blood sport and unfortunately Christian took a lot of heat for his leader. We got some wind from our leader and I think Tony's position on the long guns was the deciding factor. I think the people feel safe with Stephen Harper. The boogie man really isn't there. I've met him a couple of times and he's a nice guy," said Brooks.

Pringle said work in the riding began immediately after the last election, in 2008, in which Martin narrowly held off Conservative challenger Cameron Ross.

Ross, who was one of the first to congratulate Hayes on his victory, said the local party entered this election with, "a good, strong party base," and worked hard.

"It's just over the top great, right?" said Ross.

"This time, for the Conservatives in Sault Ste. Marie, everybody was pulling together, everybody was working together," said Ross.

Hayes said he worked hard and so did his volunteers.

"I worked at least as hard as (Martin) did. I made myself a promise from Day 1, that I would not be out-worked and I was not outworked, absolutely not outworked, and that's something I'm so proud of," he said.